[IL-Talk] President Riccobono's notebook for the week of August 28

Tue Aug 29 13:19:56 UTC 2023

Critical Actions:

September Presidential Release-On the Road:

The National Federation of the Blind
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fresources%2Fpublicatio
ns-and-media%2Fpresidential-releases&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw070-a89QjTh-TJrWS
JM5Zl> Presidential Release #530 will be broadcast from Chicago, Illinois,
on September 7, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., eastern. Closed captions and Spanish
interpretations will be available.
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb-org.zoom.us%2Fj%2F9298267980
7&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw0bYVLr9AoK1UneLlKSWLoM> Presidential Release Zoom
ID: 929 8267 9807.

News:

2024 Washington Seminar:

While I won't say that it's right around the corner, the 2024 Washington
Seminar is quickly approaching. Consider this notification as a kind of
"save the date." Next year's Washington Seminar will be held at the Holiday
Inn Washington - National Capitol from Monday, January 29 through Thursday,
February 1, 2024. As is tradition, the Great Gathering-In will be on that
Monday (January 29, 2024) at 5:00 p.m. That's only five months away, so be
sure to stay tuned for updates in the near future regarding hotel
reservation and additional scheduling details.

Service Animals on Airlines:

Amanda Morris, a journalist for The Washington Post, recently published an
article detailing the problems that blind Americans are encountering when
trying to fly on commercial airlines with their service animals. The article
can be read in the
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fwellnes
s%2F2023%2F08%2F28%2Fairline-regulations-service-animals%2F&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=
AOvVaw2T5dULoWnyPx2L6-TQnIM5> August 28 edition of The Washington Post. In
the article, Morris recounts the experience of Federation member Elizabeth
Schoen, who was recently denied boarding a JetBlue flight because of her
service dog.

Route 66 Ride for Literacy Update:

The National Federation of the Blind Route 66 Ride for Literacy with Dan
O'Rourke is still going strong. Dan crossed from Oklahoma to Kansas to
Missouri over the weekend. He has celebrated the ride so far with
Federationists along the way. There is one more pitstop party in Missouri on
August 31 before the final celebration in Chicago on September 8. Please
share this ride with your friends and family to raise awareness on the
importance of Braille literacy and connecting with our community. Follow the
Ride for Literacy at
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Froute66&sa=D&sntz=1&us
g=AOvVaw1h0rDbdkoPCJcvxIP1Y9OQ> nfb.org/route66.

Lift Up with Lyft Round Up:

The National Federation of the Blind has joined Lyft's Round Up program.
Please go to the menu in your Lyft app, choose "Donate," and select the
National Federation of the Blind to have each fare rounded up to the nearest
dollar with 100 percent of your contribution going to raise expectations and
make dreams come true.

LEGO Braille Bricks:

Lego Braille Bricks, which have previously only been available to
educational partners serving the blind through the LEGO Foundation, are now
available for sale in the United States. Pre-orders are now being accepted
for the new
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lego.com%2Fen-us%2Faboutus%2
Fnews%2F2023%2Faugust%2Flego-braille-bricks-play-with-braille-&sa=D&sntz=1&u
sg=AOvVaw25AKzSMjXyvEgpR5JurIz_> LEGOR Braille Bricks - Play with Braille
set, which contains over 250 of the Braille Bricks in five colors. Braille
is a key pathway to literacy, and engaging blind and low-vision children
with fun and creative Braille tools puts them on the path to success. LEGO
Braille Bricks are a cool way for blind and non-blind friends and family to
learn about and create with Braille together. LEGO is already an integral
part of the lives of many young people, including my own family. By making
Braille part of the LEGO experience, the company is creating exciting
opportunities for education, inclusion, and innovation. We are thrilled to
be a partner in the introduction of LEGO Braille Bricks to the American
market.

Submit Blind Equality Achievement Month Activities:

Throughout October, members of the National Federation of the Blind conduct
activities in our local communities such as white cane walks, film
screenings, and social events. Please submit your affiliate or
chapter-related #BlindMonth activities, including the
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fbl
ind-equality-achievement-month%2Fwhite-cane-awareness-day&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AO
vVaw1FHy7b5N5XuUaG2s65b0J2> white cane proclamations, with a brief
description to
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/vpwasvbgh8e2/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=web@nfb.org>
web at nfb.org. They will be posted on the Blind Equality Achievement Month
page at
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fblind-month&sa=D&sntz=
1&usg=AOvVaw257js1ofQzvwJmEk-A4Y4K> nfb.org/blind-month.

Dates to Keep in Mind:

(all times eastern)

*	August 31: Deadline for affiliates
<https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/h/vpwasvbgh8e2/?&cs=wh&v=b&to=actionfund@a
ctionfund.org> to request calendars
*	September 14 and 17: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Blind
Equality Achievement Month)
*	October: Blind Equality Achievement Month
*	November 8: Introduction to the Organized Blind Movement, 8:00 p.m.
*	December 7 and 10: Chapter Presidents Call, 8:00 p.m. (Planning the
Year Ahead)
*	July 3-8, 2024: National Convention; Orlando, Florida

Marilyn Green, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

312-343-8396

president at nfbofillinois.org <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> 

www.nfbofillinois.org <http://www.nfbofillinois.org/> 

Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is a community of members
and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every
day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.s